Population

A country’s greatest wealth is the people who live there. Knowing who make up the country's population tells us also about its past, present and future. Population includes all people living in the country, including foreign nationals and stateless persons. Population indicators show the breakdown of people living in Estonia by sex, age, nationality and educational level as well as where they come from. In Estonia, it is necessary to make sure that future generations will continue to sustain local life.

The main population indicators are the following:

  • population figure as at the beginning of the year;
  • natural increase and net migration;
  • various rates, e.g.
    • fertility rates;
    • death rates;
    • life expectancy;
    • demographic labour pressure index;
    • dependency ratio.

The following data on Estonian residents are included in population statistics:

  • sex;
  • age;
  • area;
  • nationality;
  • education;
  • citizenship;
  • country of birth;
  • native origin;
  • population projection.

Population statistics help to observe changes in the society and allow the state to make smart decisions. Time series analyses can be used to make projections, such as what will the Estonian population be like in 2050 or 2080. Will the population figure increase or decrease? Will Estonia be a country with an ageing population?

1,366,491
0.0%
2024
Natural increase -5,669
-6.7%
2022
Net migration 39,757
464.5%
2022
Life expectancy for males 73.6
1.2%
2022
Life expectancy for females 82.3
1.1%
2022
Births 11,646
-12.3%
2022
Deaths 17,315
-6.8%
2022
Population density 31.4 inhabitants per km²
2.6%
2023
Population distribution by ethnic nationalities | 2023
Population figure as at 1 January | 2004 – 2024
Males and females
2004 1,366,250
2005 1,358,850
2006 1,350,700
2007 1,342,920
2008 1,338,440
2009 1,335,740
2010 1,333,290
2011 1,329,660
2012 1,325,217
2013 1,320,174
2014 1,315,819
2015 1,313,271
2016 1,315,944
2017 1,315,635
2018 1,319,133
2019 1,324,820
2020 1,328,889
2021 1,330,068
2022 1,331,796
2023 1,365,884
2024 1,366,491

News

1,366,491 people – Estonia's population grew due to immigration, the number of births fell

According to the preliminary data of Statistics Estonia, on 1 January 2024, the population of Estonia was 1,366,491, which is 607 persons more than at the same time a year ago. In 2023, there were 10,721 births and 15,832 deaths in Estonia. Based on the data on registered migration, 20,209 persons immigrated to Estonia and 14,491 persons emigrated from Estonia. Compared with a year earlier, the number of births, deaths and immigrants has fallen, while the number of emigrants has risen.
Read more 18. January 2024
Blog

How happy is the Estonian man?

International Men's Day is celebrated this coming Sunday, 19 November. Epp Remmelg, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, took the opportunity to find out how the Estonian man is doing.
Read more 17. November 2023
News

Estonian residents live more years in good health

According to Statistics Estonia, in 2022, life expectancy at birth was 78.1 years in Estonia. Male life expectancy was 73.6 years and female life expectancy was 82.3 years. Men live disability-free for 57.9 years and women for 60.6 years.
Read more 28. June 2023